Door-clamping means for washing machines, cylinders, and the like



Jan. 24, 1928. 1,657,181

J. B. sANDo DOOR CLAMPING MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINES, CYLINDERS., AND THE LIKE JN VENTOR Patented Jan. 24,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. BANDO, l' NOBWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY HA- CHDERY COMPANY, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

DOOR-CLAMPING MEANS FOB. WASH-ING- MACHINES, CYLINDERS, AND THE LQIR.v 4

Application led June 28, 1826. Serial No. 119,071.

This invention relates to securing means for the doors vo cylinders such as are comi monly employed in various ty es of laundry machines, and the invention as articular application to the sliding doors o the type o perforated cylinder in such machines wherein articles to be washed, rinsed, dry cleaned, etc., are placed and the cylinder rotated or oscillated in a tub partly filled l0 with suitable liquid i'or the purpose intended which, having access to the cylinder through the perforations, intermittently subjects the articies to a bath in the cylinder; althouoh :"zc invention is applicable as well to t e Si ytable cylinders of drying tumblers, or to the stationary tubs within which the perforated cylinders referred to are arranged to rotate.

The objects of the invention are to provide combined clamping and locking means Jfor the doors, doing away with possible crevices, rough edges, etc., within the cylinder, and yet requiring very little clearance outside the cylinder; the clamping and locking means being easily operable to perform the functions intended of them; and the design and construction while being such as to insure proper functioning, being simpler and less expensive than have heretofore been emplo ed.

Fyurther objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from its exact nature as set forth in the following description. taken in connection with the accompanying i drawings in which Fig. 1 is ay front view of a typical erforated washing machine cylinder showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a detailed section along the line 2-4.of Fig. 1, showing the door closed and secured; Fig. 3 is a detail iront View of the clamping mechanism with parts cut away to show construction; Fig. 4 is a detail similar to that of Fig. 2 but showing the door unsecured in closed position; Fig. 5 is'a detail l along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 1s `a t ical section upon the edge'of'the door t en along the line -6-6 of Fig.' 1; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are typical sections along the line 7--7 andS--S respectively of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the'drawings,1 is the .50 perforated cylinder referred to, provided with heads 2 whereby the cylinder may be '.inounted for rotation in a suitable casing or tub in a manner well known in the laundry machinery art. Mounted to slide upon the cylinder to close or uncover -corr onding openings therein are one or more. oors 3, each provided with a handle'7, whereby access may be had to the interior of the cylinder for loading and unloading articles to be treated therein. Each door, hereinafter referred to as the door, is maintained in proper alignment by strips 4 secured upon the cylinder adjacent the door o ening,- of suiiicient length to guide the door in all positions, and of thickness somewhat less than that of the door edges. Along the upper edge of the door is secured a member 5 of hook shaped section adapted to strengthen the door and to cooperate inclosed position thereof with a similar member 6 to limit closing motion of the door and reinforce this edge in closed position. Across the lower edve of the cylinder opening are secured strips 8, 9 and 10, the inner strip 9being of less width than the `other strips whereby a groove is formed vfor the rece tion of the lower edge of the door in closed position as shown particularly in Fig. 6.

Extending along each side of the door so as to overlap 'the door edge and the adjacent strip 4 is a clamping band 11.

Theupper end ot each clampin band is adjustablysecured upon the cylinder 'as by passing aroundra pin 12 which in vturn 1s threaded to. E receive an adjusting rod 13. Upon the adjusting rod is fixed a nut 14, its opposite end being threaded oppositely from the end passing through the pin 12; and secured in a member 15 fast u von the cylinder, the arrangement being o viously such that the position of the upperj endfof the band 11 is adjustable byv rotation of the nut .14. The `member-15 `may be 'apin similar to the pin 12,.asfshown so' that some movement 5 of .the band radially of the .cylinder is snowed.- i; I

Upon thel cylinder ,oppositethe ltviverl end of each band is a bracketl in which is rotatably mounted a pin 17 carrying a handle 18. An eccentric ortion of the pin 17 passes throu h a brac et 19 secured upon the lower en of the band. The eccentricity of the pin 17 'is such that movement of the handle 18 from the osition of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 2 will force t e lower end of the band downward and inward, stretching the band along the side of the door; and the angularit of the eccentric is such that movement of tile handle 18 will bring the eccentric slightly past center so that an upward pull upont e band acting through the bracket 19 would tend to more tightly clamp the bracket and band against the door. The strips 4 are of less thickness than the door to insure contact of the band against the door throughout its length.

Functioning of the invention will be ob vious: The upper end of each clamping band is adjusted by the arrangement described so that when the parts are in the relative osition indicated b Fig. 4 the door will be ce for movement, ut so that when the handle 18 is moved to the position of yFig. 2 the door will be securely clamped throughout its entiie length by the band; and by the arrangement shown the door may be secured equally well in any position, suc as open for inspection of the contents of the cylinder.

While with certain types of laundry machinery cylinders a seal upon the door is unnecessary, it is in many cases essential that the inner surfaces of the cylinder be clear of any projections which might injure delicate articles in movement within the cylinder; and it will be noted that with the employment of my invention no projection whatever extends within the cylinder.

Attention would also be called to the relatively slight extension of the parts beyond the outer surface of the cylinder.

It'will be noted further that m invention embraces not only a means or tightly clamping the door but also for positively locking the same in any position clamped; and that therefore no appurtenances other than the door handle shown, are required in a cylinder equipped with my invention.

An equall important feature of my invention is t e fact that the door may be thereby secured against any loosenessrwhich might allow chattering and result in damage to the c linder contents; the sides and top of the door in the arrangement described and illustrated being firmly pressed against the cylinder, and the bottom secured against an appreciable movement.

at I claim is:

1. In a laundry machine of theclass described, a cylinder rovided with an. opening, a door adapted) for sliding movement upon said cylinder to cover and uncover said opening, and clamping and locking means for said door comprising a band extending alongside said opening and overlying the corresponding side of said door one end of said band being secured upon said cylinder, means upon the other end ot said band for tightening the same upon said door and for locking the same when tightened, said means comprising pin receiving members secured upon said band and said c linder respectively, a pin extendin t rough said members, that ortion of sai pin in one of said members eing eccentric with that portion in the other member, and means for rotating said in.

2. In a laundry machine of the class described, a cylinder provided with an opening, aY door adapted for sliding movement upon said cylinder to cover and uncover said opening, clamping and locking means for said door comprising a band extending alongside said door opening and overlying a portion of said door, one end of said band being secured upon said cylinder, means upon the other end of said band for tightening the same upon said door and for locking the saine when tightened, said means coniprising pin receiving members secured upon said band and said cylinder respectively, a-

pin extending through said members, that portion of said pin in one of said members being eccentric with that portion i'n the other member, and a handle secured upon said pin for rotation thereof and so positioned with res ect to said eccentric that movement of sai handle to said cylinder moves the center of` the portion of the pin in the in receiving member on said band in the rectioii of closing movement of said door beyond the center of the rtion in the pin receiving member of sai cylinder.

3. In a laundry machine of the class described, a cylinder providedwith a generally rectangular opening, a door ada ted for sliding movement upon said cylinder to cover and uncover said openin a door guiding projection upon said cy inder adjacent a side of said opening, the height of said projection being less than the thickness of said door adjacentfthereto, clamping and locking means for said door comprising a band extending along said side and overlying adjacent portions of said door and said projection, one end of said band being secured upon said cylinder, and means upon the other end of said band for ti htening the same upon said door and for locing the same when tightened.

4. In a laundry machine of the class described, a c linder rovided with longitudinally space genera corresponding doors adapted for sliding movement upon said cylinder to close its corresponding openings, a door jection upon said cylinder exten g circum-` iding proly rectangular openings,

ferentialiy thereof, and lying between said openings, the height of said projection being less than the thickness of said doors adjacent thereto, and clamping and looking l means for said doors comprising a band extending along said projection and overlying adjacent portions of said doors, one end of said band being secured upon said cylinder, and means upon the other end of said band for tightening the same upon said doors 10 i and for locking the same when tightened.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH B.- sANDo. Y 

